BLACK ANVIL – Triumvirate CD review

BLACK ANVIL – Triumvirate CD
Relapse Records

Back in the 1980s the New York Hardcore music scene had its fair share of bands that leaned towards a more metallic sound. Some of them tried to deny it of course which was like me trying to deny my own New Jersey accent. Eventually a few of those bands just gave up and moved onto the more profitable Metal pedigree or in other words they just wanted to make enough money to eat and stop sleeping on floors. I start off with that history lesson because the three members of this Black Metal band used to be in KILL YOUR IDOLS, a Hardcore band from New York who might’ve played a CBGB’s Sunday matinee show before the place was closed down. I really don’t know their history other then name recognition since I gave up on Hardcore years ago. In fact this is my introduction to BLACK ANVIL, who have a previous release Time Insults the Mind. I think they’re on tour with WATAIN as well, a tour which will bypass my little ole neck of the woods. Be that as it may after a few listens to this I really can’t hear any previous baggage.

Triumvirate could’ve been made by any of this band’s European counterparts as far as the raw sounding BM template goes. Try blasting “The Evil of All Roots” to your buddy, who dresses up as Shagrath every Halloween, and ask which Scandinavian country he thinks this band might be from. Then spring the truth on em that they’re from New York, New York a helluva town. That’s only part of the fun because BLACK ANVIL also treats us to something else which is part of New York’s finest and that’s death metal grooves. For example “We Own You” and “Dead and Left” open with sickening riffs, courtesy of guitarist Gary Bennett, sounding from the filthy subterranean level then alternate em within the black tremolo picked rhythms. But blackening the blood stained streets of the metropolis is not the only thing these guys are into. BLACK ANVIL also adds bits of atmospheric alienation with short cuts like “Crippling” and “Eliminate”. Performance wise, vocalist and bassist, Paul Delaney has a somewhat harsh howling vocal style and probably doesn’t have any trouble hailing a cab in the city. Drummer Raeph Glicken does a decent job at alternating styles without sounding like he’s in the gray area.

Since I’m on a lower pay grade then with your typical media handlers I’ll just keep things in reality. Triumvirate is a decent release and adds to America’s blackened heritage of acts that can stand along with the European base. Although this is certainly not anything new under the black & death banner which has been waved for a long time by such greats like VITAL REMAINS or INCANTATION, also from New York. The only difference being that BLACK ANVIL play shorter songs which works out well for short dick hipsters to pre-ejaculate over in their unenlightened praise. Maybe with their third or fourth release they’ll get the dark denizens of the underworld to cum black blood.

Label: www.relapse.com

MySpace: www.myspace.com/blackanvilny